One Frame At A Time: Illinois
While this game feature far more folly from Illinois than Michigan, there was only one snap to the dangly bits. With all apologies to Ben Gedeon, that moment had to be Hans Moleman'd.
[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the Illinois game in GIFs.]
As always, click the links/stills to open each GIF in a lightbox.
HONORABLE MENTION
Glasgow/Wormley double shruggie.
Glasgow as terrifying QB spy.
Higdon offset draw picks up 3rd and 17.
Higdon run impeded by official, still successful.
Hammering Panda.
Harbaugh adjusts hipster specs.
Harbaugh banner shot.
Harbaugh celebration.
Near-identical Speight celebration.
Hudson tips punt.
McCray/Lewis/cavalry TFL.
McCray dives on fumbled snap.
McDoom jet.
Morris semi-effective lead block.
Peppers kickoff return.
Peppers is versatile.
Smith leaves wake.
Someone requested the ref's pants blowing in the wind so here's that, I guess.
Stribling near-pick and reaction.
Wiltnard Speightinson.
Wheatley touchdown. (Replay angle.)
Wheatley tip drill catch.
Yakety snap.
10. Thread The Needle
A perfect throw from Wilton Speight, and not a half-bad effort from Amara Darboh, either.
9. Yoink
A screen pass should be safe, right?
...right?
8. Os Defeat Xs
The play design is a brilliant counter to all the jet motion Michigan's run this year, and Eddie McDoom continues to be quite fun to watch in the open field.
7. Your Weekly Harbaugh
A freakout in three acts:
Incredulous shrug as the scoreboard as it replays the ultimately failed spot challenge:
Harbaugh and ref, a rather one-sided conversation:
Something about the framing in that last one just kills me.
6. Nose For The End Zone
There's a lot to like about this play: the O-line's blocking, Bobby Henderson wrecking the force defender to spring Higdon outside, and especially Higdon's sixth sense for open-field running.
5. Arigatou
[returns bow]
4. Roadkill
I think De'Veon Smith may have taken note that #17 was the defender who knocked Chris Evans out of the game.
3. Man Getting Hit By Football
The unedited version.
2. BUTTTRAIN
Mesmerizing loop:
The full play:
FRAMES OF THE GAME: GET IN MY BELLY
VOTE
October 26th, 2016 at 10:35 AM ^
I'd be productive this morning, you go and post this at 10:30. But I can't stay mad at you, Hurst Belly Rub!
October 26th, 2016 at 10:35 AM ^
Barney's movie had heart, but "Football in the Groin" had a football in the groin!
October 26th, 2016 at 11:33 AM ^
IT WORKS ON SO MANY LEVELS
October 26th, 2016 at 11:45 AM ^
This isn't America's Funniest Home Videos
October 26th, 2016 at 12:27 PM ^
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October 26th, 2016 at 12:27 PM ^
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October 26th, 2016 at 1:19 PM ^
No worries. That line never gets old. :-)
October 26th, 2016 at 10:39 AM ^
Hurst Belly Rub is the clear winner.
October 26th, 2016 at 10:40 AM ^
It's "Mah Belleh"
Emphasis on the last "leh". Get in Mah Bel-LEH.
Because this is how things should be.
October 26th, 2016 at 10:41 AM ^
When we win the national championship this year, I think it will be safe to say that it was the direct result of Willie Hurt's belly rub sack dance. Best ever.
October 26th, 2016 at 11:18 AM ^
October 26th, 2016 at 12:14 PM ^
You may remember him from such films as The Big Chill, Body Heat, and Broadcast News...but he prefers "William".
October 26th, 2016 at 4:54 PM ^
Larry Kasdan's minion.
October 26th, 2016 at 10:41 AM ^
When I saw that Higdon run live, I made the comment that the Ref was playing better defense than Illinois.
October 26th, 2016 at 10:54 AM ^
That Don Brown arigatou (#5) was incredible.
October 26th, 2016 at 11:21 AM ^
Agreed. I thought it would get more love in the vote.
October 26th, 2016 at 11:44 AM ^
in response to? I missed it live
October 26th, 2016 at 2:04 PM ^
October 26th, 2016 at 12:40 PM ^
i love the way the shoulders turn maize on the jacket when it is stretched, makes the bow look even cooler
October 26th, 2016 at 10:57 AM ^
I supriringly enjoyed the ref pants blowing in the wind one
October 27th, 2016 at 4:20 PM ^
It needs the LSU Freak treatment of being photoshopped into a James Brown dance montage.
October 26th, 2016 at 11:00 AM ^
From "Hudson tips punt" ... I like how he wiggled away from contact to avoid any hint of roughing the kicker.
October 26th, 2016 at 11:00 AM ^
October 26th, 2016 at 11:03 AM ^
I love that you can see the moment on that Jet Sweep when McDoom puts on his "I ran track, here is my running track form for maximum speed" hat
He's gonna be such a special player!
October 26th, 2016 at 11:05 AM ^
October 26th, 2016 at 11:50 AM ^
That play is great, but it's not only that. Next time, they're going to run this same fake jet/swing route, but instead of giving it to 13 (who will have no less than 2 DBs overreacting to his double-back), Speight will pump-fake it to McDoom and then turn it hit the RB on a screen to the other side... or something.
This staff is fantastic. Everything builds on itself. They're a step ahead at all times - assuming your preparation for what they've done in the past and taking advantage of where you plan to be next time.
October 26th, 2016 at 1:00 PM ^
Not only do we have the best coaching staff in the country (IMHO anyway), I think an underappreciated part of the staff is all of the talented coaches that they have hired for behind the scenes work. People like Bush and Poggi who were successful coaches at the high school level are likely scouring high schools around the nation to see innovative plays. On top of that, they are likely scouting Michigan's offense to try and find tendencies where they can deploy a play just like this McDoom play to counter the defense's reaction. Where is that reporter to write an article on Poggi's influence???
What a difference an innovative and determined coaching staff can make in just a year and a half.
October 26th, 2016 at 11:07 AM ^
Watch the Illini defender on McDoom's abbreviated jet motion. Apparently he isn't allowed to look across the LOS.
October 26th, 2016 at 2:22 PM ^
October 26th, 2016 at 7:22 PM ^
from one CB to another, and the second guy rushes to catch up and yeah, ends up on the other numbers! Hilarious, and our coaching staff had to know they were going to hand him off like that. I don't know what you call that kind of defensive backfield action (just zone?), but we read it perfectly.
October 27th, 2016 at 4:26 PM ^
I think he ends up making the tackle way downfield, so good on him, I guess.
October 26th, 2016 at 11:09 AM ^
Love the Hurst belly rub, but it's gotta be BUTTTRAIN. The reaction in the stadium was phenomenal, and he was just so BLINDINGLY wide open.
October 26th, 2016 at 12:41 PM ^
but there was another guy (not sure who) who was equally BLINDINGLY wide open at the other side of the end zone. Would have been a tougher throw, of course, but Michigan sure confused the heck out of the Illini D with that play.
October 26th, 2016 at 11:14 AM ^
I doubt Smith knew or cared 17 was the guy who hit Evans. He just loves running over people.
I know he isn't the most talented back we have, but I think I will miss him more than any back since Hart. As Brian wrote better than I "Smith wants to End you". Love that attitude.
October 26th, 2016 at 11:21 AM ^
Higdon mentioned in his presser that the whole RB group was pissed about that hit. I wouldn't surprise me if Smith made a mental note of the number. That said, you're right, he would do that to anyone.
October 26th, 2016 at 7:14 PM ^
that guy had him dead to rights, and Smith just trucked him. Loved it.
October 26th, 2016 at 11:28 AM ^
Coach Beaulieu is on the other sidelines complaining that it wasn't in the green notebook.
Higdon's long TD worked out great, but didn't he have a good shot at the pylon given Crawford's downfield block? A better/faster defense would have caught him in the middle of the field. Instead of having to beat one guy who was being pushed inside by Crawford, he had to dodge a pursuing #1 and then Crawford's man #24 and #10 tackled him at the goal line.
October 26th, 2016 at 11:36 AM ^
October 26th, 2016 at 12:09 PM ^
I loved the block by Hederson, he actually took out two defenders as the second one had to jump over the wreck of his friend to try and get to Higdon.
October 26th, 2016 at 11:37 AM ^
Maybe not quite the frame of the game, but the Higdon offset draw on 3rd and 17 is highly addictive to watch.
October 26th, 2016 at 11:44 AM ^
Proud of my fellow Michigan fans that belly rub is the runaway winner.
October 26th, 2016 at 11:46 AM ^
I hope I'm not the only one who's super impressed with how McDoom switched carry hands on the swing pass.
October 26th, 2016 at 11:47 AM ^
As much as I love the belly rub...
Something about Don Brown's bow is just the perfect embodiment of "win with character, win with cruelty". I feel like we could use this Don Brown gif for other maulings this defense gives.
October 26th, 2016 at 11:53 AM ^
Does anyone else think the safety on the Wheatley TD took a bad angle on purpose so he didn't have to try and tackle him?
October 26th, 2016 at 12:10 PM ^
Didn't like that fake punt - it blew the shutout!
October 26th, 2016 at 12:36 PM ^
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October 26th, 2016 at 12:16 PM ^
The best part of the Deveon Smith "Roadkill" clip is when he turns around at the end to levy scorn on his vanquished opponent.
October 26th, 2016 at 12:23 PM ^
Between Arigatou, Roadkill, and Get In My Belly. Went with Arigatou due to my respect for Sensei Don Brown. Roadkill is great though, especially Smith glaring at the defender afterwards.
October 26th, 2016 at 12:33 PM ^
I actually got a kick out of the ref's pants in the wind. Looked like he was a killer dancer.
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